About Us

Estate of Mind

For over 320 years Rust en Vrede has stood peacefully among the vineyards of Stellenbosch. Through centuries there were periods when wine was produced, but since 1977 our family have specialized in producing only red wine with the focus on Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot.

Many accolades have been bestowed upon the estate and some of the more memorable were when Rust en Vrede was chosen by President Nelson Mandela to be served at the Nobel Peace Prize dinner and hosting the Queen of Denmark for a lunch with my family at the Manor House. Rust en Vrede was nominated as the first South African red wine in the Top 100 Wines of the World and repeated this achievement for four consecutive years.

Today Rust en Vrede continues to be a fine example of what Stellenbosch is all about and we will strive to be a driving force in promoting our wines, our region and ultimately our country.

You are always welcome at Rust en Vrede and on behalf of my family and colleagues, we are looking forward to your visit.

Jean Engelbrecht

The People

With all the technology, science, ideas and opportunities at our disposal, we still need people to execute and make things happen. All successful companies have good people who are passionate, motivated, educated and committed. My colleagues have all these qualities, but they also have other unique attributes that set them apart.

History

Rust en Vrede was established in 1694 by the then Governor of the Cape, Willem Adrian van der Stel. It was originally made up of a larger property but in the early 1700’s was divided into two whereby the original section remained as Rust en Vrede. The first house on the estate was built in 1780 followed by the cellar in 1785. In 1790 the larger manor house was built.

Terroir and Vineyards

Rust en Vrede Estate is located just outside Stellenbosch toward the False Bay side of the Atlantic Ocean, nestled on the lower slopes of the impressive Helderberg Mountain between 85m and 130m above sea level, with a view on Table Mountain to the West.